India Begins Indigenous Development of 20mm Aviation Gun for Rudra and Prachand Combat Helicopters with SSS Defence and Kalyani Group Shortlisted by DRDO's ARDE

Key facts

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) has shortlisted domestic firms SSS Defence and Kalyani Group to develop an indigenous 20mm aviation gun and turret system.
• This will be India's first domestically designed and developed aviation medium-caliber gun, intended for the Rudra (Advanced Light Helicopter Mk-IV) and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand.
• The development phase is expected to take around two years, after which production orders will be split based on cost, with the lowest bidder receiving 60% and the other firm 40%.
• ARDE and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a memorandum of understanding last year to collaborate on the gun project.
• The LCH currently uses the THL20 turret from European firm KNDS, which in September announced supply of 126 newly manufactured THL20 turrets for India's new LCH fleet and has supplied 136 turrets for Indian Air Force Advanced Light Helicopters.
• Indigenous HELINA and Dhruvastra anti-tank guided missiles, derived from the Nag programme, are meant for Army and Air Force helicopters respectively; in June, Bharat Dynamics Limited received orders worth Rs 1,109.37 crore from HAL for HELINA launchers and Rs 238.34 crore for countermeasure dispensing system units, to be executed over 24 to 60 months.
• Kalyani Strategic Systems and Thales Belgium announced an agreement in September to manufacture 70mm rockets in India, with the first fully India-assembled rocket expected in early 2027.